Time piece dials



p 6 1955 P. HUGUENIN ETAL 2,716,829

TIME PIECE] DIALS Filed May 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6 1955 P.HUGUENIN ET AL 2,716,829

TIME PIECE DIALS Filed May 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent TIME PIECE DIALS Pierre Huguenin, Bienne, and Marcel Fetterle,Neuchatel, Switzerland, assignors to Huguenin & Cie, Bienne,Switzerland, acorporation of Switzerland Application May 28, 1953,Serial'No; 358,086 Claims priority, application Switzerland February 5,1953 8 Claims. (Cl. 41-35) The object of the present invention is a timepiece dial, and especially a Watch dial. This dial is characterized bythe fact that it is provided with at least one recess extending at leastin the region neighboring its periphery, by the fact that this recess isprovided with a filling of transparent material, and by the fact that adecoration is provided which is situated in the recess and is visiblethrough the material of the said filling.

The fact that the decoration, situated in the recess or recessesprovided, is visible through a transparent material imparts to thisdecoration the aspect of enamel and enhances its relief.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of examples, twelveembodiments of the dial constituting the object of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a diametral cross section of the first embodiment.

The Figs. 2 to 12 are views similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and relativeto the other eleven embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a watch dial comprising a metallic plate 10 one of thefaces of which is provided with a central recess 11 extending as far asthe peripheric region of the dial, whereas its opposite face is providedwith feet 12 enabling the plate 10 to be fixed to the movement of thewatch. A decoration 13 situated in the recess 11 is visible through amass 14 of transparent material which fills the recess 11 of the plate10. The plate 10, the decoration 13 and the filling 14 are provided intheir centre with a hole 15 through which the axis of the hands of thewatch may pass. Fitted hour signs 16 are fixed onto the filling 14 bymeans of studs 17 passing through this filling and fixed in the plate10.

Referring to Fig. 2, the watch dial comprises a metallic plate 18provided with a central recess 19 which extends as far as the periphericregion of the dial, and with feet 20 enabling it to be fixed to thewatch movement. A decoration 21 situated in the recess 19 is visiblethrough a filling 22 of transparent material. Fitted hour signs 23 sunkin the filling 22 and visible through the latter are fixed to the plate18 by studs 24.

The dial illustrated in Fig. 3 is a variant of the dial shown in Fig. 2,variant in which the hour signs 25 are surrounded by the filling 26, sothat their upper faces are not covered by the latter.

The dial illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises a metallic plate 27 providedwith an annular recess 28 situated in the peripheric region of the dialand in which is situated a decoration 29 which is visible through afilling 30 of transparent material. The recess 28 is arranged outsidethe zone of the hour signs 31, which are in one piece with the plate 27,and surrounds this zone.

The dial according to Fig. 5 is a variant of the one according to Fig.1, variant in which the metallic plate 32 is provided with an annularrecess 33 situated in the peripheric region of the dial. A decoration 34and a filling 35 of transparent material are situated in the recess 33.The hour signs 36 are situated in the ring formed by the recess 33 andare fixed onto the filling 35.

The dial according to Fig. 6 is a variant of the one according to Fig.5, in which the hour signs 37 are surrounded by the filling 38 oftransparent material and are sunk in the latter excepting for theirupper faces.

The dial illustrated in Fig. 7 comprises a metallic plate 39, which isprovided with a first recess 40, which is. annular and situated in theperipheric region of the dial, and'with a second recess 41 arranged inthe central region of the dial. Decorations 42 and 43 are respectivelysituated in the recesses and 41 as well as respective fillings 44 and 45of transparent material which enable the decorations 42 and 43 to beseen. The second recess 41 extends to within close proximity of the hoursigns 46 which are in one piece with the plate 39 and formed with thelatter by stamping. The two recesses 40 and 41 are thus separated by anannular part of the dial carrying the hour signs.

The dial according to Fig. 8 is a variant of the dial according to Fig.7 in which the hour signs 47, which are distinct from the metallic plate48, are fitted to the latter in the annular zone separating the tworecesses.

Fig. 9 illustrates a dial comprising a metallic plate 49 which is alsoprovided with an annular recess 50 arranged in the peripheric region ofthe dial and with a recess 51 placed in the central region of the dial,and with a raised annular fillet 52 separating the two recesses. In eachrecess 50 and 51 are situated a decoration and a filling of transparentmaterial allowing the decoration to be seen. The fitted hour signs 53are situated in the ring formed by the recess 50 and are fixed onto thefilling arranged in this recess.

Fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the dial similar to that shown inFig. 9, with a variant consisting of the hour signs 54 being surroundedby the filling of the peripheric recess and sunk in this fillingexcepting for their upper faces.

The dial according to Fig. 11 comprises a metallic plate 55 providedwith a peripheric recess 56 and with a central recess 57, the tworecesses being contiguous but of unequal depth. The fillings 58 and 59of transparent material are not of the same thickness so that these twofillings offer a smooth exterior surface which is continuous from theone to the other. The fitted hour signs 60 are fixed onto the filling 58in the zone of the peripheric recess 56.

The dial according to Fig. 12 differs from the one shown in Fig. 11 onlyin that the hour signs 61 are surrounded by the filling of theperipheric recess, their upper surfaces being slightly raised above theupper surface of the filling of this recess.

In all the examples described the decoration may either be applieddirectly onto the bottom of the recess, or may be borne by a piece ofsheet material applied to the bottom of the recess or may be engraved onthe bottom of the recess.

What we claim is:

1. Time piece dial, having at least one recess extending at least in theregion neighboring its periphery, said recess being provided with afilling of transparent material, characterized by the fact that adecoration is situated on the bottom of the recess and is visiblethrough the material of said filling and that it comprises relief hoursigns which are directly in contact with the said filling and which,seen from the front side of the dial, are surrounded by the filling.

2. Dial according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hoursigns are disposed directly on the said filling.

3. Dial according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hoursigns are covered by the said filling,

4. Dial according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hoursigns are laterally in contact with the filling.

5. Dial according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the recessextends in a ring in which the hour signs are situated.

6. Dial according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that itcomprises, in addition to the said recess, which extends solely in itsregion adjacent to the periphery, a second recess also provided with afilling of transparent material and with a decoration situated inside itand visible through the said material, this second recess extending inthe central region of the dial.

7. Dial according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that it isprovided with a raised annular fillet separating the two recesses.

8. Dial according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the tworecesses are contiguous but of unequal depth, the thickness of thefilling being different from the one and the other so that the twofillings ofier a smooth exterior surface which is continuous from theone to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 559,758France June 21, 1923 617,884 France Nov. 29, 1926 770,922 France July 9,1934

